Not a typo: Christie to veto "controversial pig crate bill"

Gov. Chris Christie told Iowa pork producers he intends to veto a controversial pig crate bill currently sitting on his desk.

The Republican governor, who traditionally backs off from declaring how he’ll act on pending legislation when asked by reporters, made his intentions clear on a pig gestation crate bill when asked last month about it during a visit to Northwest Iowa, according to a pork producer.

“He indicated to us that he was going to veto the bill,” said Bill Tentinger, an Iowa pork producer and former president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

When Christie — a potential Republican presidential candidate — vetoed a similar bill in 2013, proponents of the measure accused him of of putting presidential politics ahead of the will of the New Jersey people, who overwhelming support banning the practice. Iowa, which holds the nation’s first presidential caucuses, has a large number of pig farms and banning the practice is unpopular there.